Fastening apparatus



July 3, 1962 R. w. HENNING ETAL 3,041,616

FASTENING APPARATUS Original Filed Feb. 17, 1954 Fig.l

' INVENTORS ROBERT W. HENNING ELMER F. PFAFF ROWLAND J. KOPF ATTORNEYUnited States Patent This invention relates to fasteners and moreparticularly to studs of special form adapted to be power driven byexplosives into wood, steel, concrete, masonry or the 7 like materialsto fasten work including Various objects on a surface of these materialsat a great saving in time and labor. This application is a division ofco-pending application Serial No. 410,787, filed February 17, 1954, nowUS. Patent No. 2,954,717 granted October 4, 1960.

Explosive drivable studs of various thread sizes and lengths arenecessarily in use to accommodate the myriad of work situationsencountered; and it will be appreciated that this represents adisadvantage in that, as a result, various sizes of explosively actuatedtools and various calibers of explosive power cartridges must be carriedat the place of work. Interchange of tools and cartridges as well asfasteners on the job delays the work. More.- over, it has always beenrecognized that in fastening operations with these types of fastenersover-penetration, especially in plate and thin wall structures,represents a hazard and is to be avoided regardless of the precautionarymeasures required to do so. It is self-evident that such measures areoften likely to keep the work from progressing as rapidly as it mightand thus prevent the full realization of the advantages of this type offastening method. A still further disadvantage of certain kinds of priorfasteners of the type to which this invention relates is a tendency ofthese to strike the surface fired into at an angle. This makes forout-of-square shots which fail to penetrate properly.

Therefore, an object of this invention is the provision of a new andimproved explosive drivable stud having the simplified structuralfeatures hereinafter described. Another object is to provide an improvedstud so designed as to offer explosive actuated tool operators aselection of a variety of thread sizes in the stud but which isejectable from the same size tool barrel and thus makes possiblereduction in frequency of fastener, cartridge and tool interchanges onthe job. Another object is to provide a stud which can be driven into asupporting material under the force of an explosive without anyappreciable possibility of over-penetration and out-of-square shots.Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the followingdescription of various illustrative and preferred embodiments of theinvention when taken together with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in cross-section taken through the barrel of adriving tool and a supporting object into and on which one embodiment ofthe stud of this invention, shown in elevation, is to be emplaced;

FIGURE 2 illustrates the embodiment of FIGURE 1, partially in crosssection, after it has been driven;

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view of a preferred modification of theouter member of the fastener of this invention;

FIGURE 4 is an elevational view partly in cross section showing anotherembodiment of the invention driven into a supporting object; and

FIGURE 5 is an elevational exploded view of a still further embodimentprior to assembly. v

In accordance with this invention, a fastener or stud is provided of twomembers, one carrying the object attaching structure such as threads andadapted to remain implanted upon the surface of the work or supportingobject and the other adapted to penetrate the supporting object andimpale the first part thereon. The one member, also called the plug orcoupling, which is the thread carrier, may be formed of any suitablethreaded length, of any suitable thread diameter and of any suitablenumber of threads per unit of threaded length. This thread carrier isperforated longitudinally for passage therethrough and of permanentreception therein of a portion of the other member hereinafter calledthe pin. Generally the attachment member is a centrally perforatedcylinder. One end of the pin is pointed to facilitate penetration of theforepart of the pin into the supporting object under the driving forceof an explosive propellant. The other end of the shank of the pin isdesigned to apply the residue of the explosive force to the threadedmember and thereby limit the penetration of the pin and fix the threadcarrier implanted upon the supporting object. This end of the pin maytake the form of an enlarged head so related to the perforation of thepenetrable plug as to insure that the pin upon being fired into the plugwill not pass through the plug entirely. The pointed end of the pin maypass freely through the plug perforation. The head of the pin is unableto pass beyond that end of the plug which is designed to receive thehead of the pin. Thus a series of studs having pins of uniform headdiameters can be provided with plugs having predetermined threadeddiameters, threaded lengths and thread sizes difiering from one another.

Generally the length of the plug which is also that of its longitudinalperforation is not less than the length of the tapered penetrating pointof the pin. This rela-. tionship of lengths assists in aligning the pinso as tofacilitate its being driven squarely into the surface of asupporting object. 7

Preferably the thread carrier is formed so as to be re versible, i.e. soas to have symmetrical anterior and posterior constructions. or theother member or both be longitudinally serrated at the mating surfacesso as to provide a more positive locking against rotational relativemotion between the members than that provided by friction aloneparticularly whenever an impact bond between the members is notattainable consistently. This locking action feature may be extended tofix not only. the members with respect to each other angularly but toalso fix one or both positively with respect to the supporting material.

But the character of this invention will be better understood from thedescription of various specific embodiments which now follows.

With reference to FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawing, the fastenerillustrated consists of the pin 1 and the plug 2. These are shown inFIGURE 2 just prior to assembly Moreover, it is preferred that oneinrelationship to each other, to the supporting work surface 37 and tothe tool, which ma be of any suitable type, having a barrel 38 springbiased forwardly, a tubular shield member 39 slidably disposed aboutbarrel 38 in coaxial relationship, a coaxial outer tube or barrelhousing 40, and a shield spring 46 which is compressed between theinternal flange 48 on tube shield 39 and a shoulder 51 on the housing 40so as to forwardly bias shield member 39 the front part of which is madeup of a spall deflector V plug 2 before actuation of the tool and untilpart of the. tool after firing is backed off from the Work andspecifically until housing 40 together with shield structure 39 are permitted rearward movement with respect to the barrel 38. This adaptor orplug receptor consists of an internally threaded nut-like barrelconnector 42 engageable with barrel threads 47, a number of spring,elements or resilient fingers 43 integral with and extending forwardlyfrom connector 42, one or more internally rough surfaced grip members 44on the end of each finger and tral bore of the plug. This constructionpermits a load attaching meanssuch as a nut being tu-rned'down on thethreads 8 of the plug. Alternately the socket of the bore of the plugmay be splined. Moreover, the shank 3 of the pin may be longitudinallyserrated or fluted as shown at 5 so as to constrain the pin 1rotationally with respect to the supporting object 37. When driven, thefastener as shown in FIGURE 2 consists ofthe pin 1 and the plug 2 swagedon the pin and impaled thereby on the work surface of 37. Inasmuch asthe tapered penetrating portion 4 of the pin 1 is shorter than thelength of the plug 2 and that of its bore, it will be appreciated thatsuch cant of the fired pin 1 as it may assume within the barrel of thetool will be reduced to substantially zero at the muzzle of .the toolbefore the point of the pin touches the supporting object 37. v

In its preferred form, FIGURE 3, the plug is made reversible for theconvenience of the tool operator, to expedite the work and for betteroperation in general. The tubular body of the plug illustrated in FIGURE3 has the bore 11 one end of which is enlarged to form socket 12 whilethe other end is enlarged to form an identical socket 13. Externally theplug is provided with a thread profile having a thread diameter, forexample, less than that of the plug of FIGURES l and 2 but of greaterlength.

In the embodiment of FIGURE 4, the plug is also of the 7 reversible typeand consists of the pin 16 and the threaded biased by elements 43radially away from the axis of the a bore 57 of the barrel. and,extending outwardly from each grip 44, a radial array of rigid linksor'appendages 45 adapted to be acted upon at one end thereof by the forwardly biased plate 49 and its skirt 50 so as to force each grip 44toward the axis of the tool barrel. When at rest,

. the shield structure with its plate 49 and skirt 50 and also thebarrel 38 are forwardly biased to protrude an appreciable distance fromthe open front end of the housing 40. In this position the array ofgrips 44 tend to contract about the inserted plug 2 and hold it captivesubstantially in abutment with the tool barrel muzzle. To insert theplug 2 into the adaptor 42, sleeve 39 and its plate 49 are moved backaway from links 45 by pulling back on catch 52, thus permitting thearray of grips 44 to spring outwardly and dilate the opening of theadaptor 41. To

'fire the tool, it must be pressed firmly and completely against object37, in which position the adaptor 41 still continues to grip the plug 2.In this position a sear 53 on catch '52 engages automatically with oneof the series of detents 54 on housing 40 and upon withdrawal of'the'tool away from work object 37 the impaled plug 2 and driven pin 1 arereleased from the tool muzzle. This sear 'and detent arrangement alsofacilitates insertion of a plug 2-into the adaptor 41. Reception ofdifferent lengths of plugs 2 is provided for by screw adjustment of theposition of the adaptor 41 on threads 47 of the tool muzzle by turningconnector 42 until the desired point is reached.

The impaling member of the fastener illustrated in FIG- URES l, and 2consists of a pin 1 having an enlarged holding head 6 and a cylindricalshank 3 of reduced cross section as compared to the head 6 whichisdesigned to closely fit the'bore 57 of the tool barrel so that anexplosive discharge received in the chamber portion 58 of'the bore backof the head may drive the pin forcibly.

The object attachment means of the fastener consists of a cylindricalplug 2 having sides of a diameter larger than that of either-shank 3 orhead 6 and of a configura tion and size matching that of any suitablestandard thread plug 17. Pin 16 has an ogival point 19 adapting theshank 18 to accomplish penetration into supporting material 38 under theforce of an explosive. The rear end of the pin 16 is provided with an,enlarged holding head 20 as in the preceding embodiment. The plug 17 hasthe central perforation 21 and externally the side walls are formed witha thread profile 22. One end face of the plug 17 is provided with aradial array of sharp projections 23.

, These are adapted to be forced into the underface of the head 20 ofthe driven pin 16 under the force of the explosive by driven pin thusfixing the pin 16 and plug 17 rotationally. Similarly the other end faceof the plug 17 is provided with an identical array of projections 24which serves to fix the plug 17 and also the driven pin 16 rotationallywith respect to the supporting object 38.

The embodiment of FIGURE 5 is of simplified construction adaptable toheavyduty usage. It consists of pin 25 and the plug 26. Anterior section27 of the shank 1 of pin 25 is of a cross section almost as great asthat of the heel 29 and the knurled intermediate section 28. -Ascompared to the shank sections of the preceding embodiments, section 27,which as in the other embodiments has an ogival or pointed front end27A, is of a diameter only slightly less than that of sections 28 and 29both of which profile 8. Longitudinally the plug is centrally pierced bya hole9 adapted to receive the shank 3 of pin 1' snugly and having aninternal enlar'gementor socket 10 at one end to seat the head 6 of thepin." 7

The head 6 of the pin l is provided with longitudinal splinesorserrations 7 designed to bite into plug 2 and lock it rotationally at14 withr espect to the pin 1 as the head 6 is seated with impact in theasket 10 of the cenare part of the same posterior enlarged section.Section 28, however, differs from heel 29 only in that section 28 isknurled or otherwise roughened to have grooves and protrusions for apurpose hereinafter disclosed. Hence, anterior section 27 is designed tomake a greater displacement in supporting materials so as to be capableof either holding a heavier load on the supporting material or ofaccomplishing desired penetration in-more difiicultly penetrablematerial. Attached to the heel 29 of pin 25 is an explosive propellantcartridge 35 of the rimfire type, for example, bearing any suitablepropellant 36 such as smokeless powder or the like. r

, Plug 26 is perforated longitudinally by central bore 30 the majorpartof which, except for the ends 31 and 32,

The contracted midsection of bore 30 and its serrations 33 plasticallydeform together with the protrusions of section 28 and as a result notonly is pin 25 halted at a desired point in bore 30 but an annular bulgeof metal is formed adjacent the heel so as to better embed the heel 29in one or the other of the ends 31 and 32. As a rule, the longer thelength of threaded plug 26, the greater is the length of serrations 33.This enables the anterior section 27 of pin 25 being driven with theproper degree of penetration into a supporting object so as to secureplug 26, with respect to its length, properly. Externally plug 26 isprovided with threads 34 of any pitch and diameter needed by the jobwhile using the same pin 25 as standardized and suitable for theexplosive actuated tool employed.

It is to be understood that in the tool shown in FIG- URE 1 not only canthe adaptor 41 be adjusted back and forth on threads 47 along the muzzleof the barrel 38 but that an adaptor having segments 43 of difierentlength may be substituted therefor. It is also to be understood that asthe adaptor is adjusted the extent of normal protrusion of the forwardend of the housing 40, which abuts against plate 49 and limits therearward movement of shield 39, and the sears or pawls 54 carriedthereon is accordingly adjusted. The plug holding structure disclosed issuitable for incorporation, for example, in the type of tool disclosedin co-pending patent application, now US. Patent No. 2,945,236, grantedJuly 19, 1960, on application Serial No. 355,034, filed May 14, 1953,wherein the tool barrel 38 has a discharge muzzle 59 and the bore 57provides a piston chamber 58 adjacent the breech.

Since many other embodiments within the scope of this invention mayoccur to those skilled in the art, it is to be understood that theforegoing is intended by way of illustration and not as a limitation ofthe scope of the present invention except as set forth in the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. An explosive actuated fastener driving tool including a housing and abarrel, said barrel having a bore adapted to receive a fastener fordriving including means back of said fastener for receiving thedischarge of an explosive cartridge therein for driving said fastenerthrough said bore toward the barrel muzzle for penetrating a workpieceafter the piercing portion of said fastener has been driven through saidbore, said housing and barrel being mounted for axial relative movementwith respect to each other between a forward thrust position of saidhousing and a safety position rearwardly thereof, jaw means mountedadjacent said barrel muzzle for holding captive thereat a perforatedfastener stopping plug member adapted to be impaled on said workpiece bythe forwardly projecting piercing portion of said fastener having anenlarged plug abutment section incapable of passing through said plugmember, said jaw means on said tool being operatively mounted formovement between an operative position where said jaw means extend inconstraining relation about said plug member for holding said member inthe path of said fastener against forward movement of said member forstopping said fastener only when its piercing portion has emerged apredetermined distance through said plug member beyond the muzzle forworkpiece penetration and an inoperative position outwardly from saidpath to permit removal of said plug member from the tool, connectingmeans responsive to said relative movement whereby said jaw means ismovable into said operative position as said housing and barrel areaxially moved relative to each other in one direction to said forwardposition and said jaw means is movable to said inoperative position assaid housing and barrel are moved in the opposite direction relative toeach other.

2. The tool of claim 1 wherein the jaw means is attached to the barrelmuzzle with axial adjustment to provide for reception in said jaw meansof plug members of dilferent lengths.

3. The tool of claim 1 wherein the connecting means includes a sleevetelescopically mounted over said barrel, said sleeve being mounted foraxial relative movement with respect to said barrel and the jaw means,said means having an inner configuration for holding the plug memberback and also outward abutment means for engagement with said sleeve formoving said jaw means into operative position, and means on said toolnormally biasing said sleeve with respect to the housing against saidjaw means and both said sleeve and barrel forwardly to urge said jawsinto said operative position, said sleeve being retractable against saidnormal bias to render said configuration of the jaw means inoperative.

4. The tool of claim 3 wherein the jaw means includes a plurality ofcircumferentially arrayed fingers mounted at one end of said jaw meanson the barrel muzzle and normally biased to pivot at their opposite endsradiaily outwardly about said first ends sufficiently so that saidfingers at said opposite ends to form the abutment means engageable withthe sleeve for reverse pivotal movement into the operative position forholding the plug member at said ends back at the muzzle end of thebarrel ready for impalement of said member on the workpiece surface by aprojected fastener.

5. The tool of claim 4 wherein the sleeve has an outwardly extendingguard plate and the fingers are resilient and normally sprung outwardlyfrom the end of the jaw means mounted on the muzzle of the barrel andhave outwardly extending lateral appendages at the opposite ends adaptedfor axial compression between said plate of the sleeve and the workpieceso as to rock the appendages and move the fingers at said ends radiallyinwardly into operative plug grasping position.

6. An explosively actuated composite fastener driving tool including ahousing, a barrel mounted within the housing for axial relative movementof said housing with respect to said barrel and having a bore forreception of a projectable first fastener component having anenlargement fitting the barrel bore closely and forming a chamber insaid bore back of said fastener for reception of the discharge of anexplosive charge for propelling said fastener toward the muzzle of saidbarrel, a sleeve telescopically mounted between said housing and barrelto extend adjacent said muzzle, abutment means movably mounted on themuzzle of said barrel for swinging radial movement inwardly into anoperative position forming a receiver for holding a centrally perforatedand restricted second fastener component at said muzzle of the barrelbore for passage through said perforation of the piercing portion ofsaid projected first fastener component and for abutment of saidfastener enlargement with said second component restriction for stoppingsaid first fastener component at the muzzle end of the bore with saidpiercing portion projecting a predetermined distance beyond said secondcomponent for workpiece penetration and alternately for swingingmovement radially outwardly from said assembled components into aninoperative position to permit removal of said impaled and penetratingfastener components from the tool, spring means biasing said sleeve withrespect to said housing into engagement with said abutment means whilesimultaneously moving said abut ment means into said operative positionas the tool remains unthrust and as the tool is thrust against theworkpiece with the abutment means in engagement with said workpiece.

7. The tool of claim 6 wherein the barrel is biased forwardly and thespring means biases the sleeve into engagement with flexible abutmentmeans and further biases the sleeve forwardly all with respect tothe'housing, said abutment means having a rigid movable portioncompressible between said sleeve and workpiece as the tool is thrustforwardly against the workpiece with the abutment means in engagementwith said workpiece thereby moving said housing against said spring biasinto abutment with said sleeve and simultaneously moving said abutmentmeans farther into said operative position.

' thrust of the tool against the workpiece and projection ofthepenetrating fastener component upon withdrawal of the tool from theworkpiece said sleeve is locked in a position rearwardly' of theforwardmost position of the biased banel whereat said abutment meansaremovable into an inoperative position to release said'tool :frem'saidassembled components and are held thereat for reloading until saidengagement is released.

7 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Bushi Jan. 3, 1911 Temple Jan. 18, 1921 Temple Jan. 21, 1921 Temple Nov. 13,1951 Springate May 6, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Australia July 18, 1941

